Glossary

Published

September 17, 2025

Modified

July 23, 2026

Abstract

French–English glossary of the symbols and terms used across the Mathematical Fundamentals and Data Analysis course.

This glossary collects every mathematical symbol and term introduced across Modules 1–8, with its notation and a plain-language definition.

Numbers and Operations (Module 1)

Order of operations / PEMDAS (priorité des opérations): The hierarchy used to evaluate an expression: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right).
Absolute value (valeur absolue), \(|a|\): The distance of a real number \(a\) from zero; \(|a| = a\) if \(a \geq 0\) and \(|a| = -a\) if \(a < 0\).
Power (puissance), \(a^{n}\): The product of \(a\) by itself \(n\) times; \(a^{0} = 1\) and \(a^{-n} = 1/a^{n}\).
Square root (racine carrée), \(\sqrt{a}\): The non-negative number \(b\) such that \(b^{2} = a\) (for \(a \geq 0\)).
Fraction (fraction), \(\dfrac{a}{b}\): A division of two real numbers with \(b \neq 0\).
Percentage (pourcentage), \(\%\): A fraction with denominator \(100\); \(t\%\) of a quantity multiplies it by \(t/100\).
Index number (indice): \(\dfrac{\text{current value}}{\text{reference value}} \times 100\); equals \(100\) at the reference level.
Proportionality (proportionnalité): Equality of two ratios; \(\dfrac{a}{b} = \dfrac{c}{x} \Rightarrow x = \dfrac{bc}{a}\).

Factoring (factorisation): Rewriting an expression as a product, using a common factor.
Expanding (développement): Rewriting a product as a sum of terms, using distributivity \(a(b + c) = ab + ac\).
Notable identity (identité remarquable): A standard algebraic equality such as \((a + b)^{2} = a^{2} + 2ab + b^{2}\) or \((a - b)(a + b) = a^{2} - b^{2}\).
First-degree equation (équation du premier degré), \(ax + b = 0\): An equation whose solution is \(x = -b/a\) when \(a \neq 0\).

Cartesian plane (plan cartésien): A plane with an orthonormal coordinate system of two perpendicular axes.
Slope (pente / coefficient directeur), \(m\): The rate of change of \(y\) with respect to \(x\) in a line \(y = mx + p\).
\(y\)-intercept (ordonnée à l’origine), \(p\): The value of \(y\) where the line crosses the \(y\)-axis (\(x = 0\)).
System of equations (système d’équations): Several equations to be satisfied simultaneously; the graphical solution is the intersection point of the lines.
Inequality (inéquation): A relation with \(<, \leq, >, \geq\); multiplying/dividing by a negative number reverses the direction.

Numerical sequence (suite numérique), \(u_n\): An ordered list of numbers indexed by the whole numbers; \(u_0\) is the first term.
Arithmetic sequence (suite arithmétique): \(u_{n+1} = u_n + r\); explicit form \(u_n = u_0 + nr\), with common difference \(r\).
Common difference (raison arithmétique), \(r\): The constant added at each step of an arithmetic sequence.
Geometric sequence (suite géométrique): \(u_{n+1} = u_n \times q\); explicit form \(u_n = u_0 q^{n}\), with common ratio \(q\).
Common ratio (raison géométrique), \(q\): The constant factor multiplied at each step of a geometric sequence.

Simple interest (intérêts simples): Interest computed only on the initial capital; \(C_n = C_0(1 + in)\) (arithmetic).
Compound interest (intérêts composés): Interest that itself earns interest; \(C_n = C_0(1 + i)^{n}\) (geometric).
Interest rate (taux d’intérêt), \(i\): The rate applied per period; simple rates convert proportionally, compound rates via \((1 + i_m)^{12} - 1\).
Average placement rate (taux moyen de placement): The single rate giving the same final capital as several combined investments.

Function (fonction), \(f : x \mapsto f(x)\): A process associating to each number a unique image.
Domain of definition (domaine de définition), \(D_f\): The set of \(x\) for which \(f(x)\) can be computed.
Sense of variation (sens de variation): Whether a function is increasing or decreasing on an interval.
Parity (parité): Even if \(f(-x) = f(x)\); odd if \(f(-x) = -f(x)\).
Discriminant (discriminant), \(\Delta = b^{2} - 4ac\): Determines the number of real roots of \(ax^{2} + bx + c = 0\).
Logarithm / exponential (logarithme / exponentielle), \(\ln x,\; e^{x}\): Inverse functions; \(\ln(ab) = \ln a + \ln b\) and \(e^{a+b} = e^{a}e^{b}\).

Average rate of change (taux de variation moyen), \(\tau\): \(\dfrac{f(x_2) - f(x_1)}{x_2 - x_1}\); the slope of the secant line.
Derivative (dérivée), \(f'(x)\): The instantaneous rate of change; the slope of the tangent line; \((x^{n})' = n x^{n-1}\).
Optimization (optimisation): Finding a maximum or minimum; for \(ax^{2} + bx + c\) the extremum is at \(x = -\dfrac{b}{2a}\) (max if \(a < 0\), min if \(a > 0\)).